as in whim
a sudden impulsive and apparently unmotivated idea or action
the vagaries of a rather eccentric, elderly lady
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of vagary
The vagaries of the Civil War are also hard to intuit at times.
—
Damon Wise, Deadline, 22 May 2026
Born around 1640, Bembo and her opera remained obscure for centuries, due to the vagaries of her music manuscripts and the historical neglect of women composers.
—Claire Fontijn, The Conversation, 18 May 2026
There were plenty of ordinary and dismissive explanations for what had happened, all related to the vagaries of the brain.
—Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
The vagaries of the schedule are something that figures to hamper MLS teams all season.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for vagary
Damon Wise, Deadline, 22 May 2026
Born around 1640, Bembo and her opera remained obscure for centuries, due to the vagaries of her music manuscripts and the historical neglect of women composers.
—Claire Fontijn, The Conversation, 18 May 2026
There were plenty of ordinary and dismissive explanations for what had happened, all related to the vagaries of the brain.
—Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
The vagaries of the schedule are something that figures to hamper MLS teams all season.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for vagary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vagary
whim
Noun
-
The menu rotates based on the event's theme, or Graci's whims, but never fails to excite, with past flavors including Jalapeño Popper, Spinach & Artichoke, Chicago Beef and more.—
USA TODAY Network,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
-
Still, hopefully a string of successes can convince companies and investors that the whims of the president alone cannot tamp down on an entire burgeoning industry, an embarrassing thing to have to convince people of in the United States.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
17 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vagary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vagary. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
